Three outstanding beef farmers have been shortlisted for the prestigious Sir Bryner Jones Memorial Award, the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society has announced.

The award, one of the society’s highest honours, is given annually to an individual or farming business that has made an exceptional contribution to Welsh agriculture.

Sir Bryner Jones helped shape the direction of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society for 50 years, was Agricultural Commissioner for Wales and subsequently became Welsh Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. He was President of the Royal Welsh in 1954, the society’s Golden Jubilee year.

This year’s focus for the award is the beef industry - the first time in 30 years the sector has been featured, and only the sixth time since the award’s inception in 1957.

Each of the ten counties put forward a nominee, with judges David Lewis FRAgS and Clive Roads FLAA visiting all entrants in May.

The winner will be revealed on the first day of the Royal Welsh Show during the society’s official award presentations.

The three shortlisted candidates for the 2025 Sir Bryner Jones Memorial Award are:

A renowned figure in the show ring, Gwyn Edwards has built a reputation for producing top-quality beef cattle on his upland farm, with success at national events including the Royal Smithfield and Welsh Winter Fair. He and his family are the only exhibitors to win the Overall Supreme Championship at the Welsh Winter Fair - a feat they have achieved three times. A long-time advocate of Continental sires and a committed promoter of Welsh Beef, Gwyn also supports numerous shows and market committees, including over 30 years as a RWAS Winter Fair county representative.

At Castellior, Dylan Jones finishes 1,600 cattle annually on a low-carbon, self-sufficient system. With a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, the farm uses home-grown feed, regular performance monitoring, and partnerships with universities and industry bodies to drive efficiency. The system has achieved a carbon footprint of just 3.9kg CO₂e/kg of liveweight - far below the national average - making it a model for future-focused, environmentally responsible beef production. The farm has been involved with Bangor University, Farming Connect and ABS Prism 2030 in preparation for the anticipated market of the future.

Philip Jones runs an organic suckler herd with a focus on sustainability, data-led breeding, and herd health. The farm uses red and white clover to eliminate purchased feed, strict calving windows for herd management, and technology like AI collars and performance recording to boost efficiency. As a Farming Connect Demonstration Farm and mentor, Philip shares his knowledge widely - including in his role as a lecturer - and plays a key part in promoting best practice across the industry.